I agree that it is interesting to these design studies for new castle lines. These specific images were featured along with 1980's castle designer interviews in the November/December 2009 issue of BrickJournal magazine.

These are utterly fascinating. Thanks for posting. I really wish I could have a closer look at the minifigures wearing doublets with poofy sleeves. The round-topped windows with matching shutters are also really interesting -- almost enough to make me start a "Dear Lego" thread about them. And is it just a trick of the photographs, or are there actually two differently sized horses? Or are the black animals pulling the cart in one picture the first attempt at cows?

These are really interesting to look at. -The Dwarfs Mine is a little meh to me - the kind of thing that if it were a MOC I'd probably pass it by without a second look. It is interesting that it seems they tried to make a bellows out of plates. -The Loch Ness one is much more interesting. The guard on the left seems to be wearing a kilt. Also it appears that two of the figs are wearing some sort of beret. Is that a never-produced 2x2 round turret piece I see? Over on the right, it seems that the island has a hinged secret opening. The monster is an interesting twist on the old dragon form. Oh, and dark green burps! Actually dark green anything at that time would have been a first, I think.-The third picture 'old prototype castle' seems much in line with other castles of that era.-Skelly horse - seems very close to the ultimately produced part. Interesting that it was originally developed possibly in the 80s. It reminds me of how about 10 years ago a photo of a prototype skelly horse in trans showed up - someone with an inside connection at LEGO (or was it an employee) brought it to a LUG meeting. There was much speculation on Lugnet at the time about what it was for.-Characters - nice crown piece. Also, did they ever make the goblet in chrome silver?-Medieval village - This is, IMO, the coolest. First, it's just a massive civilian set, the sort of thing we always ask for. There are a bunch of never-produced hats/hairpieces - That brown hair/beard combo (Brendan Powell Smith got a hold of one of those in black that he used in the Brick Testament), black hair on the guy by the horse statue looks like one of the hairs later produced in HP, or maybe in the recent Collectible figs, beret on the right, hats with brims, two hard-to-see white headpieces in the front left. Interesting collar piece, and also those modified fig arms to look like poofed-sleeves. Also we see the Fabuland sign in black, and the old round shield in brown.-Other village - That insert for the rounded window is really nice and would still be a good part to produce. Tri-corn hats in red and white. I see the old forestman torso pattern but in red with a green accent. I think you're right about the smaller horses. And it's not the pony piece, as these seem to have studs. Lots of light gray tall slopes. Also, that cobblestone baseplate would have been a great part to produce.

Thanks for posting this! A little history lesson but I really enjoyed it. The best part,(in my eyes) is the prototype of the skeleton horse designed back in the '80s and then just released just about 3? years ago. Wow. That is an incredible little fun fact.

Thanks for posting the link. I had never seen this before, and it is a nice find. There are a lot of interesting pieces the concept of a most of them are cool. I kinda like that the castle set includes separate brick built trees.

Chief Smithy of Brick ForgeI buy LEGO, I play with LEGO, therefore LEGO are not for children, they are for me!

Yet another thing I thought would be useless to post because I thought everyone knew about it...*sigh* My favorite is the Loch. Go Nessie! I also am a big fan of that Dwarf Mine. just replace 50% of the minifigures with dwarves, and the other 50% with Trolls, and I would gladly buy it. One of the MMV prototypes isn't that great to me, but I like the one with the black statue.

Some folk we never forget Some kind we never forgive Haven’t seen the back of us yet We’ll fight as long as we live

ummm the napoleonic prototype that davidant23 (or 32) posted is incredible. I would love that. Also, the last village prototype is awesome because it seems to be focused on a time where the people are transitioning between knights and guns.

So many interesting parts. It is amazing to me that TLG has revisited so many of these ideas in later sets and IMHO to better effect.

The mine set is amazing to me. It looks more like a MOC from today than a set. In the mold of the MMV it looks almost too good. The sloping techniques for the mountain are incredible. Is that an animal coming out of the doors on the left? Those also look like some large 45 degree panels I've never seen before?

On the Loch Ness set nice find on that round turret top. The round tower piece seems to have an arrow loop size opening in the side as well? I would love to get my hands on that old dragon version of Nessy. I bet I know what Nessy wants from those old scottish nobles... Tree Fiddy!

The U prototype castle is the closest thing to a UCS castle I've ever seen. It is very large with two gate houses and tons of figures. The dragon shield in so many colors would be sweet. Check out those trees! I would give my first born child (If I had children that is...) to get a hold of those brown octagonal pieces for tree making. I don't think I've ever seen those in brown before?

I heard about the horse skeleton from yesteryear but didn't know how factual it was.

The crown is certainly interesting and the goblet is chrome is great. The kings robes look well... let's just say he is pimped out...

The two towns while awesome take place more in high middle ages or in the Renaissance. All of those hats and hairpieces would certainly be welcome. Are those hanging signposts actual released lego pieces? While the rounded window frame is interesting I don't think I would use it for castle mocs. The rounded shutters on the other hand are awesome looking to me. I would love those steep slopes in old grey. Does anyone have an idea how did they do the tudoring in that last village?

The Loch Ness set would have been a pretty nice set to have, but the standouts for me are the villages. A civilian set is a good set in my eyes. All of those different hats and civilian torsos would have been very welcome. And I really like the style of buildings in both of the pics.

"Evening, madam. I'll be having your bricks now, if you please." - The Highwayman